My VERY old website

Today I discovered that there was a snapshot of my 1997 website on the Wayback Machine. This was almost 22 years ago! In those days we used dial up modems and I seem to recall that my very first CompuServe website (1994 I think - must see if there is a copy of this too!) used a 2.4k modem and involved a long distance phone call to connect. We have come a long way.

If you want a look, the old Demon website is at:
https://web.archive.org/web/19970328203144/http://lapr.demon.co.uk/

Spring hope - NOT amateur radio

Both our children and grandchildren have collected conkers from these old trees in our churchyard. No doubt children from countless generations have done the same. The trees were planted to celebrate the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Spring has sprung.

Furthermost east on Oscar 100

HS0AJ (Thailand) was just received via the web SDR on SSB via Oscar 100, the geosynchronous satellite. This is the furthermost east I have copied so far via this satellite. Activity on SSB seems to be gradually increasing as more stations assemble gear. He was using 2W, but I do not know the dish size. He must be on the easternmost coverage area.

See https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/

10m Es already?

10m Es can occur at any time of the year, but it tends to peak May, June, July and August here. About 30 minutes ago I QSYed to 10m FT8 and was surprised to spot EA3HDZ (1213km) as well as a couple of Gs. My own CQ (2.5W) was spotted by no-one.

I am wondering if this is Es and whether with FT8 brief patches of Es (maybe very short-lived) are spotted earlier in the season? The main bulk of long-lived Es openings don't usually start here until late April.

UPDATE 1134z: 5 stations spotted so far today on 10m FT8 RX. 4 are Gs plus the EA3.

UPDATE 1319z: Now 8 stations spotted today on 10m FT8 RX with F6DAY (788km) spotted around 1100z.

I keep forgetting about BST! An hour has to be taken off local time now to get GMT.

UPDATE 1538z: Now 9 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. All but 2 are Gs.

UPDATE 2000z: Still 9 stations spotted on 10m FT8 RX today. I shall be staying on 10m FT8 RX overnight, although it is unlikely I shall spot any now until tomorrow morning.

Sunspots - Sunday March 31st 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number zero. A=4 and K=0. Still looks like we are scooting along the bottom of the solar minimum.

472kHz WSPR overnight

Things are definitely going "off the boil" on 472kHz WSPR. Yet again, I copied fewer stations than earlier in the "season". This may be my last outing on 472kHz until the autumn.

Returning summer migrants - NOT amateur radio

It is usually well into April before the common summer migrants here return from Africa. The earliest I have ever seen a swallow here is April 7th, although they are often seen in Devon much earlier. By the end of April they are ubiquitous. I am already scanning the skies!

QRPclub newsletter

The latest PDF version of Vestnik is now available.

See http://club72.su/vestnik/qv20.pdf

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

A few minutes ago I QSYed from 10m FT8 RX to 630m WSPR (10mW ERP TX 20%, 80% RX) using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground. It usually take about 20 minutes for the transverter crystal to settle on TX. Until this happens I usually get drift. Surprisingly, G8LCO (58km) has already spotted me a couple of times, albeit with drift - this drift should disappear before 1800z.

UPDATE 1750z: The transverter crystal has settled and drift on TX is now zero. M0FMT (51km) now copied on RX.

Sunspot minimum

Although the sun has been spotless of late, there are tentative signs that we may be climbing up from the sunspot minimum. OK, it is hard to tell and many months will have to pass before we can be sure. The last time I looked one forecast had the solar minimum as 2022 or 2023 whereas another said we had already had the sunspot minimum! As said many times, this is a bit like UK weather: sometimes you can be very wrong. 😕

Blackmail - NOT amateur radio

Despite have lost the vote no less than 3 times already, the UK Prime Minister is reported to be wanting a 4th go to get her "divorce bill" to leave the EU approved by the MPs in the House of Commons. Whatever your views, you have to admire her tenacity!

Personally, I think this is blackmail - she is pandering to MPs fears of no-BREXIT or a long delay. She also realises a General Election is unlikely to win her many friends. It is clear her deal is widely disliked.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47756122

Garden bird nests - NOT amateur radio

For certain a pigeon is nest building in the ivy in a tree overhanging our garden. Yesterday there was a robin exploring a nest box (used by robins 2 summers ago) and a blue tit exploring another nest box. There are probably other nests I am unaware of too. It is that time of the year when things come alive again.

Wasps - NOT amateur radio

In the last week, I have seen 2 wasps in the shack. I guess these climb in via my cable hole in the wall. I assume these are queens trying to find a place to nest. This is the first time I have seen them in the shack.

Years ago I remembered my dad being stung by a wasp. This would be in the 1960s. He was sunbathing in the garden when a wasp landed on his stomach. He sat up, trapping the wasp, that promptly stung him!

The photo is the own work of Trounce. See https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1_wasp_2007-04-25.jpg#file .

See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasp

10m FT8

About 10 minutes ago I QSYed to 10m FT8. At first I called CQ (2.5W) and got no spots, but now I am RX only (again, no spots).

ICOM IC9700 arrivals

MLS are expecting deliveries of this 2m, 70cm and 23cm SDR transceiver very soon now. I expect the same will be true of other suppliers. It is very similar to the IC7300.

2m FT8 RX

Since I turned on 2m FT8 RX late yesterday, no less than 65 stations in 7 countries spotted (see photo). It never fails. Don't forget this is just with a big-wheel omni - no beams!

2m FT8 RX since late yesterday here

UPDATE 1311z: Now 81 stations in 10 countries spotted here on 2m FT8 in the last day. Omni antenna still. Best DX is DF6PW (673km).

Sunspots - Saturday March 30th 2019

Solar flux is 68 and the SSN 0. A=7 and K=2. Still pits!

2m FT8

For about an hour I have been in 2m FT8. After first calling CQ (2.5W) 6 spots with best DX GI6ATZ (478km). Yet again my QRP was spotted in Northern Ireland and Cornwall. On RX the best DX is DF6PW (673km). 2m FT8 is amazing.

UPDATE 1950z: 23 stations in 5 countries so far this evening on 2m FT8 RX.

Norwich - NOT amateur radio

Today we went by car to Ely and then by train to Norwich. Norwich is a fine city with a great Norman cathedral and a good market. It is place we like a lot.

OFCOM and gender pay gap

OFCOM has published details of its survey of the gender pay gap.

See https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/what-is-ofcom/corporate-responsibility/diversity-and-equality . It is narrowing, but still there.

472kHz WSPR

Last night, I was again on 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). I think the season is drawing to a close. In the end I spotted 6 stations and 6 stations spotted me.

472kHz WSPR overnight

10m FT8 RX

Despite the poor solar numbers, I am on 10m FT8 RX after a brief CQ call (no spots).

UPDATE 1740z: Just a couple of G spots today on 10m FT8. Dire!

Sunspots - Friday March 29th 2019

Solar flux is a poor 67 and the sunspot number 0. A=11 and K=2.

472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP)

With nothing at all on FT8, I have QSYed to 472kHz WSPR (10mW ERP). G8LCO (58km) has already spotted me.

UPDATE 2300: 4 spots so far of me with best DX PA0O (440km). Interesting again that more stations are copying me that I am copying others. This was the same the last time I was on 472kHz WSPR. It suggests many are leaving the band now that we are in spring. Most DX possible has already be worked, so people are turning to new challenges perhaps?

Stations that have spotted my 10mW ERP 

so far this evening on 472kHz WSPR

, 

472kHz FT8 (not WSPR)

As an experiment, I am on 472kHz FT8 (10mW ERP from the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground). If I spot anyone at all I shall be amazed and if I have a QSO I shall be doubly amazed!

UPDATE 1940z: No 472kHz FT8 spots at all. Assuming nothing changes, I shall move to WSPR at 2000z.

Mother's Day - NOT amateur radio

It seems that our local Waitrose is gearing up for Mother's Day on Sunday. I guess (being a cynic) they see a quick profit.

Typical Oscar 100 RX

This picture appeared today. It shows a typical Oscar 100 (geosynchronous) satellite RX. At some point I may have a go. It seems to be working well. I guess the trick is to dual feed the dish so both the 2.4GHz uplink and the 10GHz downlink share the same dish.

Rallies this Sunday in the UK

31 MARCH 2019, : BATC REGIONAL CONVENTION

Premises of the North Bristol ARC, SHE7 building, Braemar Crescent, Filton, Bristol BS7 0TD. Doors open from 10am to 4pm. A full day of talks & demonstrations with a test bench available for visitors projects. Full details of the programme will be published on the BATC Forum before the event; https://forum.batc.org.uk Further information from Shaun G8VPG, tel.01225 873 098, g8vpg@aol.com.


Sunday 31 MARCH : PENCOED RC TABLE TOP SALE

Pencoed Rugby Club The Verlands Felindre Road Pencoed CF35 5PB. Doors open 9.30am, stall holders have admittance from 8am. Refreshments available on site. Details from Madeline Roberts on 0773 837 5775.


A list of rallies can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

Other sites maintained

My three main blogs currently are:

http://g3xbm-qrp.blogspot.co.uk/ Amateur radio mainly.
http://qss2.blogspot.co.uk/ Almost anything!
http://eachurches.blogspot.co.uk/ East Anglian churches visited. I am afraid this latter blog has not been updated for some time.

I also run my wife's choral group website and the Sub 9kHz Amateur Radio website. These are linked on my main website www.g3xbm.co.uk

ISWL

Twice I was a member of the International Short Wave League. Once in the 1960s and I rejoined many years later. I left again after several years as it no longer seemed to reflect my interests.

Back in the 1960s it was quite strong. In later years, it was much weaker and I had the feeling it was dying out. I see it is still around today. When I eventually left, having contributed many articles for the club journal "Monitor", not even an email to say, "sorry you are leaving". I guess this would have been about 2011, although I cannot remember.

If anyone knows how many members of the ISWL there are today, I'd love to know. It would not surprise me if there are less than 100 members left. When I left for the second time, I seem to recall there were about 300 members.

40m FT8 RX overnight

Overnight I remained on 40m FT8 RX, despite my very poor, low, antenna. At least this must give others hope! In all, 591 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX in 5 continents. Best DX was PY2BL (9531km). Even in the last 30 minutes, I am still spotting North America on 40m FT8 RX.

40m FT8 RX spots in last day

UPDATE 1422z: I stayed on 40m FT8 RX today. 665 stations spotted on 40m FT8 RX since I switched to 40m yesterday. This seems to be the main DX band at this part of the solar cycle.

Sunspots - Thursday (yes it definitely is!) March 28th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the SSN 0. A=6 and K=3.

40m FT8 RX

About an hour ago I QSYed to 40m FT8 RX. So far this evening 126 stations spotted on 40m. My antenna is very low and far from ideal for 40m.

UPDATE 2136z: South and North Americans now being spotted on 40m FT8 RX. Best DX is PY2BL (9531km).

UPDATE 2150z:  188 stations spotted this evening on 40m FT8 RX.

Stations spotted so far this 

evening on 40m FT8 RX.

20m FT8 RX

As 10m FT8 was so dire, I QSYed to 20m FT8 RX. So far, in a couple of hours 139 stations in 3 continents spotted.

UPDATE 1939z: 151 stations spotted so far.

10m FT8

Since 0745z, I have been on 10m FT8. Initially I called CQ (2.5W), but after a few minutes I have been 10m FT8 RX only. No spots of my CQ, but surprisingly a couple of stations spotted on RX with best DX F1SCR (435km).

UPDATE 1435z: Just 3 spots today (2 Gs and 1 F) so far.

UPDATE 1445z: As 10m is so poor here today on my setup, I have QSYed to 20m FT8. The antenna is even poorer on 20m, but at least there is some activity

2m FT8 RX

Until breakfast time, I stayed on 2m FT8 RX. In all, 36 stations spotted since early last evening. Some were probably aircraft reflections, but I suspect most were normal "flat band" tropo as I seem to be spotted by some DX stations whenever I call CQ, so this is very unlikely to be aircraft reflections, which would be strong and depend on when the aircraft is/are in the right spot.

Sunspots - Wednesday March 27th 2019

Solar flux is 69 and the sunspot number 0 again. A=6 and K=2.

Sorry for the "senior moment " when I thought today was Thursday - now corrected!

2m FT8

Since just before teatime I have been on 2m FT8. So far 17 stations in 3 countries have been spotted on 2m FT8 RX with best DX DK1VC (503km).

On TX (2.5W FT8 to the big-wheel omni) DK1VC (503km) was among the 19 stations that spotted my QRP 2m FT8 signal in 5 countries.

Stations that spotted my 2.5W 2m FT8 

to the omni antenna this evening so far.

2m FT8 never fails to amaze me.

Microwave Round Table

Many years ago I went along to the microwave round table at Martlesham, Suffolk. It must have been a very long time ago. I see that on the programme for this year are talks about gear for Oscar 100 and how to make a GNUradio based transceiver. My health prevents me going these days. It is too far to drive.

See http://mmrt.homedns.org/

Shed cleaning - NOT amateur radio

As it is spring, our son gave our garden shed a bit of a spring clean. He also trimmed a few overhanging branches. As you can see, he took everything out and washed the floor. It looks much better now. An added bonus is you can now see the floor! 😏